The Exception

Chapter 50: Midnight Advice

The light's snapped on, and I squinted. I was halfway with the tub of ice cream in the kitchen, and I did not expect someone to come in.

"Oh dear, boy trouble?" my dad put his suitcase down.

"Why are you back so early?" I asked sarcastically. I popped the spoon in my mouth as my dad removed his coat. Granted, seeing him, was somewhat of a surprise.

"I was gonna be back earlier, but then I heard my daughter got punched...let's just say I've been working on settling that matter..." my dad sat down and grabbed another spoon. "Are you ok?"

"Does it look like I'm ok?" I asked with my eyebrows raised. My dad nodded. 

"Look, honey, I know the look on someone's face when they have gone through a literal beating, but something tells me, that there is more to this than meets the eye," my dad took  a scoop of the ice-cream and popped it in his mouth. "What's going on?"

"And what do you care?"

"Enough that I signed up for  a part-time job to fix things with my daughter,"

I raised my brow in surprise. "When did you do this?"

"The day after driving you back home...look, I was planning on telling you tomorrow, but I guess it being almost morning counts for something," my dad leaned back. "Now, what is going on?"

I sighed and shook my head. I suppose there was no harm in telling him a small part of it. "I just found out that three people that are the closest to me, have been lying to me about something that happened in their past...about something quite big. And now, I don't know what to do."

"Oh, wow, that's intense," my dad nodded, and I shook my head.

"One of them, happens to be my boyfriend..."

"Wait, Evan? That sweet ..."

"He's not as sweet as he looks," I answered. "And I am not getting a clear story of what is actually going on..."

"You know what I would do sweetheart?"

"Work?"

"Ok, maybe I deserved that, but whatever lie or truth you are confused about, it seems like there is a puzzle, for you to decipher what pieces are true, and what's junk...find the missing puzzle pieces, and decide then, what you are going to do about it. But only after you have the full picture..."

"With the puzzle or with my friends and boyfriend? Because how can I trust them after this?" I asked.

"Well, if there is anything I have learnt in all my years, is to never judge someone until you know the full story...do you know the full story?"

I shook my head. "But the part that I know is dark..."

"Well, I guess you then have to shine a light on it," my dad spoke. "Honey, to give you my full story, my father was drunk, and a lazy man. For years, my mother strove to make sure we had enough food and a little clothing, and schooling...I guess, I just wanted to be the one that provided for  family, and I swore that I would never be the reason why you, my wife or my youngest would grow hungry. And that is why, I work so relentlessly. So much so, that I guess I missed the point of raising a family at all...and I'm deeply sorry for that."

I stared at him in silence. Things all of a sudden became so much clearer, and I nodded. "Well, we still have some time to make up for it."

"Not nearly half enough, but I'll take any time you'll give me," my dad smiled and my heart melted. All these years, I had simply believed my dad didn't care. In his own terms, he cared and worried too much about providing. And my dad was most certainly right...I did see him in a new light.

So I guess, truth be told, I would have to shine a light on this story, and I would find the truth, because although I may have been happier in the dark... I was also so much more naïve and ignorant of the people around me, but their dark truths may just be the reason why I constantly get hurt.